Upright vacuum cleaner with removable air path cover for canister assembly

ABSTRACT

An upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet. The canister assembly includes a first housing member and a removable cover that cooperate together to form a wand receiver, a hose connector and an integral air path between the wand receiver and the hose connector.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/196,582 filed on 3 Aug. 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the floor care appliancefield and, more particularly, to an upright vacuum cleaner incorporatinga removable air path cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Upright vacuum cleaners in all of their designs and permutations havebecome increasingly popular over the years. The upright vacuum cleanersgenerally incorporate a nozzle assembly and a canister assemblypivotally mounted to the nozzle assembly. Wheels on the nozzle andcanister assemblies allow the vacuum cleaner to smoothly ride over thesurface to be cleaned.

The canister assembly includes an operating handle that is manipulatedby the user to move the vacuum cleaner back-and-forth across the floor.The canister assembly also includes either a bag-like filter or acyclonic separation chamber and filter combination that trap dirt anddebris while substantially clean air is exhausted by a fan that isdriven by an onboard electric motor. It is this fan and motorarrangement that generates the drop in air pressure necessary to providethe desired cleaning action.

In most upright vacuum cleaners sold today, a rotary agitator is alsoprovided in the nozzle assembly. The rotary agitator includes tufts ofbristles, brushes, beater bars or the like to beat dirt and debris fromthe nap of a carpet being cleaned while the pressure drop or vacuum isused to force air entrained with this dirt and debris into the nozzle ofthe vacuum cleaner.

Over the years many different conduit systems have been designed toroute the air path from the suction inlet on the nozzle assembly to thedirt collection vessel on the canister assembly. The routing is somewhatcomplicated by the pivotal connection between the nozzle assembly andcanister assembly. With any conduit system there is always thepossibility that a clog may develop and thereby effectively close thepathway and inhibit the cleaning efficiency of the vacuum cleaner. Thepresent invention relates to a vacuum cleaner assembly that allows quickand total access for the efficient and effective cleaning of any clogthat might possibly form in the air path in the area of the transitionfrom the nozzle assembly to the canister assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as describedherein, an improved upright vacuum cleaner is provided. That uprightvacuum cleaner comprises a housing including a nozzle assembly with asuction inlet and a canister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzleassembly. The canister assembly includes a first housing member and aremovable cover that cooperate together to form a wand receiver, a hoseconnector and an integral air path between the wand receiver and thehose connector.

The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a suction generator carried onone of the nozzle assembly and the canister assembly and a dirtcollection vessel carried on the canister assembly.

Still further, the upright vacuum cleaner includes a wand assemblycomprising a removable wand and a first flexible hose connected betweenthe wand and the dirt collection vessel. In addition a second flexiblehose is connected between the suction inlet and the hose connector.

In one possible embodiment the dirt collection vessel is a filter bag.In another possible embodiment the dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup.That dirt cup may include a substantially cylindrical dirt collectionchamber, a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet inorder to provide for cyclonic airflow.

In addition the upright vacuum cleaner may include at least one rotaryagitator carried on the nozzle assembly adjacent the suction inlet.Further the canister assembly may include an upright control handle. Inaddition the removable wand may be a two piece telescoping wand. Furtherthe hose connector may take the form of a hose cuff. Still further aseal may be provided between the first housing member and the removablecover. In addition, a lever for releasing the wand assembly is capturedbetween the first housing member and the removable cover.

In the following description there is shown and described one possibleembodiment of the present invention, simply by way of illustration ofone of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will berealized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments andits several details are capable of modification in various, obviousaspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature andnot as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification, illustrates several aspects of the present invention, andtogether with the description serves to explain certain principles ofthe invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway, perspective view of the upright vacuumcleaner of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dirt collection vessel of theupright vacuum cleaner of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a detailed, exploded perspective view of the first housingmember and removable cover of the canister assembly;

FIG. 4 is a schematical view of the air flow circuit through the vacuumcleaner;

FIG. 5 a is a detailed rear elevational view with the housing coverremoved to clearly show the release lever and detent when the wandassembly is in the locked position;

FIG. 5 b is a view similar to FIG. 5 a but showing the lever in positionto release the wand from the wand receiver; and

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross sectional view illustrating the seal providedbetween the first housing member and removable cover of the canisterassembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 3 showing an upright vacuum cleaner10 equipped with a removable air path cover 12 for allowing quick andeasy access to the air path for the inspection and cleaning of clogs anddebris from that air path. The upright vacuum cleaner 10 includes anozzle assembly 14 and a canister assembly 16. The nozzle assembly 14includes a suction inlet 18. A rotary agitator 20 is carried on thenozzle assembly 14 and extends across the suction inlet 18. The rotaryagitator 20 includes a series of projecting cleaning elements 22. Thecleaning elements may take the form of, for example, brushes, wipers,beater bars, bristle tufts or the like.

The canister assembly includes a control handle 24 and a hand grip 26. Acontrol switch 28 is provided adjacent the hand grip 26 so that theoperator may conveniently control the functions of the vacuum cleaner10. Electrical power may be supplied to the vacuum cleaner 10 from astandard electrical wall outlet through an electric cord (not shown).Alternatively, the vacuum cleaner 10 may be powered by an onboardbattery, fuel cell or other power source.

A pair of rear wheels 30 are provided on the lower portion of thecanister assembly 16 and a pair of front wheels (not shown) are providedon the nozzle assembly 14. Together these wheels 30 support the vacuumcleaner 10 for movement across the floor. To allow for convenientstorage of the vacuum cleaner 10 a foot latch (not shown) functions tolock the canister assembly 16 in an upright position as illustrated inFIG. 1. When the foot latch is released, the canister assembly 16 may bepivoted relative to the nozzle assembly 14 as the vacuum cleaner ismanipulated to-and-fro to clean the floor.

The canister assembly 16 also includes a cavity 32 adapted to receiveand hold a dirt collection vessel 34. In the illustrated embodiment (seeFIG. 2), the dirt collection vessel 34 includes a substantiallycylindrically shaped dirt collection chamber 36, a substantiallytangentially directed inlet 38 and a substantially axially directedoutlet 40. This structural arrangement promotes cyclonic airflow withinthe chamber 36 in order to enhance the cleaning efficiency of the vacuumcleaner. A main filter 42 of cylindrical shape is held in the chamberover the outlet 40. The filter 42 insures that even relatively fineparticles of dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel34.

As illustrated schematically in FIG. 4, the canister assembly 16 alsocarries a suction generator 44 consisting of a cooperating fan and drivemotor. The suction generator 44 functions to generate a vacuum airstreamfor drawing dirt and debris from the surface to be cleaned. While thesuction generator 44 is illustrated as being carried on the canisterassembly 16, it should be appreciated that it could likewise be carriedon the nozzle assembly 14 if desired.

A conduit system, generally designated by reference numeral 50 providesan air path from the suction inlet 18 to the tangentially directed inlet38 on the dirt collection vessel 34. More specifically, the canisterassembly 16 includes a first or main housing member 52 and a cooperatingremovable air path cover 12 that when connected together define anintegral air path 54. More specifically, the integral air path 54 may beformed by two cooperating half pipes 56 molded in the first housingmember 52 and the removable cover 12 (see also FIGS. 5 a, 5 b and 6).

As illustrated, a flexible hose 58 connects the suction inlet 18 on thenozzle assembly 14 with the integral air path 54. Advantageously, theflexible hose 58 insures the integrity of the air path between the twoassemblies 14, 16 during vacuum cleaner operation. More specifically,the flexible hose 58 has a first end that is secured in a fitting 60 onthe nozzle assembly 14 and a second end that is secured in a hose cuff62 formed by or integrally molded in the first housing member 52 andremovable cover 12.

The opposite end of the integral air path 54 formed by the housingmember 52 and cover 12 includes a receiver 64 that receives and holdsthe inlet end of a removable wand 66. If desired, the wand 66 may be atwo-piece telescoping wand such as, for example, disclosed and describedin issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,474 to Ohara et al. owned by the assigneeof the present invention. The receiver 64 may simply comprise a taperedwall adapted to provide a friction fit with the end of the wand 66. Aspring loaded detent 65 carried on the wand 66 engages in a lockingaperture 67 formed in the housing member 52 and cover 12 in order tocomplete a secure connection. The opposite or outlet end of the wand 66is connected by a flexible hose 68 to the inlet 38 of the dirtcollection vessel 34 through a conduit or plenum 69.

During normal upright vacuum cleaner operation, the rotary agitator 20loosens and lifts dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpetbeing cleaned. That dirt and debris is then drawn into the suction inletby the vacuum airstream generated by the suction generator 44. Thatairstream travels from the suction inlet 18 through the flexible hose58, the integral air path 54, the wand 66 and the flexible hose 68through the inlet 38 into the chamber 36 of the dirt collection vessel34. Dirt and debris is then captured in the chamber 36 and clean airpasses through the main filter 42 and along the axial outlet 40 througha passageway to the suction generator 44. As the clean air passes overthe motor of the suction generator 44 it provides cooling before thatclean air is exhausted back into the environment. A secondary filter 70may be provided between the outlet 40 of the dirt collection vessel 34and the suction generator 44 and a final filter 72 may be provideddownstream from the suction generator 44 but upstream from the exhaustport 74 through which the clean air is exhausted from the vacuum cleaner10.

When the operator wishes to perform above floor cleaning, the operatordepresses the release lever 76 that is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin77 on the housing member 52 and captured between that housing member andthe cover 12 (see specifically FIG. 5 b). A lug 78 on the lever 76 thendepresses the spring loaded detent 65 so that the detent is disengagedfrom the locking aperture 67. The operator then simply grasps the wand66 and withdraws the inlet or distal end thereof from the receiver 64.Air may then be drawn directly through the wand 66 and the hose 68 intothe dirt collection vessel 34. The wand 66 may then be easilymanipulated to clean in tight corners or above the floor for specialcleaning applications. The normal floor cleaning mode may bereestablished by reinserting the distal or inlet end of the wand 66 intothe receiver 64 to thereby reestablish communication between the suctioninlet 18, the dirt collection vessel 34 and the suction generator 44.When this is done the detent 65 is biased into the locking aperture 67to secure the wand 66 in position (see FIG. 5 a).

It should be appreciated that numerous benefits result from employingthe concepts of the present invention. For example, the removable airpath cover 12 may be made from transparent material if desired in orderto allow free and easy visual inspection of the air path 54. In theevent of a clog, the cover 12 may be quickly and easily removed from thehousing member 52 effectively opening the air path 54 along the midlinethereof so as to allow quick and convenient removal of the clogtherefrom. The cover 12 may then be quickly and easily replaced on thehousing member 52 to close the air path 54 for normal vacuum cleaneroperation. It should be appreciated that the cover 12 may be held inplace by any appropriate means including snap fasteners, screws or thelike.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible inlight of the above teachings. For example, the dirt collection vesselmay comprise a simple filter bag held in a sealed compartment in thecanister assembly 16 instead of the illustrated cyclonic dirt cup.Further a simple non-cyclonic dirt cup could be provided. In addition,the main filter could be provided downstream from the dirt cup insteadof in the dirt cup. A rubber seal such as an O-ring could be provided ina groove formed in the mating edges of the half pipes 56 of the housingmember 52 and cover 12. Of course other sealing arrangements could beutilized including, for example, a labyrinth seal if desired.

The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustrationof the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the inventionin various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variationsare within the scope of the invention as determined by the appendedclaims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they arefairly, legally and equitably entitled.

1. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: a housing including a nozzleassembly and a canister assembly pivotally connected to said nozzleassembly; a suction inlet on said nozzle assembly; a suction generatorcarried on said housing; a dirt collection vessel carried on saidhousing; said canister assembly including a first housing member and aremovable cover that cooperate together to form a wand receiver, a hoseconnector and an integral air path between said wand receiver and saidhose connector; a wand assembly including a removable wand and a firstflexible hose connected between said wand and said dirt collectionvessel; and a second flexible hose connected between said suction inletand said hose connector.
 2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein saiddirt collection vessel is a filter bag.
 3. The vacuum cleaner of claim1, wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup.
 4. The vacuumcleaner of claim 3, wherein said dirt cup includes a substantiallycylindrical dirt collection chamber, a tangentially directed inlet andan axially directed outlet.
 5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, furtherincluding at least one rotary agitator carried on said nozzle assemblyadjacent said suction inlet.
 6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, whereinsaid canister assembly further includes an upright control handle. 7.The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said removable wand is a twopiece telescoping wand.
 8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein saidhose connector is a hose cuff.
 9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, whereina seal is provided between said first housing member and said removablecover.
 10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further including a lever forreleasing said wand assembly from said wand receiver, said lever beingcaptured between said first housing member and said removable cover. 11.An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: a nozzle assembly including asuction inlet; a canister assembly pivotally connected to said nozzleassembly, said canister assembly including a first housing member and aremovable cover that cooperate together to form a first receiver, asecond receiver and an integral air path between said first and secondreceivers; a suction generator carried on one of said nozzle assemblyand said canister assembly; and a dirt collection vessel carried on saidcanister assembly.